Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

[gtsawyer]

Hello boater friends. First post here. Newbie!

Looking at buying a 2004 Sea Ray 176. 140 Hours on it - seems well cared for by one local owner.
Ready to move on this and my buddy said that i wont be able to plane out quick given what he is saying is small engine versus his 4.3

Granted prop / pitch i read is important but 2nd to Engine size.

Will this engine meet my expectation with a boat of 5 adults and pull up a slalom skier in a reasonable time?

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

We had a Glasstream 17.5' with the 3.0L motor. For all around use, it was great. But we did have difficulty pulling a slalom skier with two in the boat. It was everything the boat had to pull him at speed. Add 3 more adults, I don't think it would do it. If that is your main use, I'd look for a V6 or V8.

 

[Philster]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

Severely underpropping it is an option some will say, but then it will be impractical as anything but a loaded up ski machine with a top speed suitable to pulling a skier at low speeds.

In reality, that's a huge load on a wee motor and it's not practical to use it that way.

 

[hostage]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

On the bright side you can pull a tube with less issues, I don't see many people ski anymore. I think my grandfather's tri-hull w/ a 3L did pull a skiier with a two to four people in the boat, but this was before America invited obesity.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

Hello boater friends. First post here. Newbie!

Looking at buying a 2004 Sea Ray 176. 140 Hours on it - seems well cared for by one local owner.
Ready to move on this and my buddy said that i wont be able to plane out quick given what he is saying is small engine versus his 4.3

Granted prop / pitch i read is important but 2nd to Engine size.

Will this engine meet my expectation with a boat of 5 adults and pull up a slalom skier in a reasonable time?

Ayuh,.... Only if ya leave 3 of the 5 on shore....

1 driver, 1 spotter, 'n 1 ski'er.... everybody else watches from shore....

 

[aerobat]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

with 5 adults on board i would say the 17 foot sea ray will not meet your expectations !

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

You will be underpowered with 5 or 6 adults just in the boat before you try to pull anyone.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

I'd say it won't be enough, but I wouldn't let the guy with a 4.3 tell me my engine is small!

 

[shout]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

I have a 3.0 in a 20 foot cuddy, weighs about 2300 lbs. Boat is absolutely maxed with me, and two others on board when trying to pull a wakeboarder. If the wakeboarder is a big person, say 200 lbs, it's a real struggle. I wish I'd asked for advice and bought the 4.3 instead.

-- shout

 

[docster]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

get a 5.0 or 5.7, when towing, you gas consumption will be the same with a V8 as with the 3.0 since the bigger engine wont have to work nearly as hard for the same result.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

Our Sea Ray 170 3.0 was a great, economical boat to run. Two people and a skier was fine. Four without was fine (assuming 30 mph cruise = fine for you). Five plus a skier I could see having some issues with.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

I ski behind my 19ft with 4 passengers with no issues (570lbs in the boat and 180 behind the boat), guess it depends how fat your friends are.

 

[dtdodd1422]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

I pull a wakeboarder with 5 in the boat but usually each person weighs in at about 170. 3.0 merc does just fine on my 2004 17 ft bayliner bowrider. Nto sure if you will have enough power to pull a slalom skier out of the water but you could pull a skier up and they could drop a ski once you are plaining.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

My 19ft Stingray with a 3.0L will pull wakeboarders all day with 5 passengers, but skiing is a different story, if that is the criteria, get the V6 at least.

 

[Ryanlewis2010]

Re: Is 3.0 Merc 2004 enough to pull a skier and 5 adult passengers?

isnt 5-6 about the max capacity of a boat that size? will it may be fun i would consider leaving them at shore and doing a barbaque and taking 2 or 3 out every 15 mins thats what i did with my uncle and about 15 other people last year. It was a fun and it was the safest way to do it